EP3098911B1 - Steuerungsverfahren, steuerungsvorrichtung und lichtquellenvorrichtung - Google Patents

Steuerungsverfahren, steuerungsvorrichtung und lichtquellenvorrichtung Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP3098911B1
EP3098911B1 EP15740832.9A EP15740832A EP3098911B1 EP 3098911 B1 EP3098911 B1 EP 3098911B1 EP 15740832 A EP15740832 A EP 15740832A EP 3098911 B1 EP3098911 B1 EP 3098911B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
laser light
intensity
driving current
group
laser
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP15740832.9A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3098911A1 (de
EP3098911A4 (de
Inventor
Shinichi Sakamoto
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Fujikura Ltd
Original Assignee
Fujikura Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Fujikura Ltd filed Critical Fujikura Ltd
Publication of EP3098911A1 publication Critical patent/EP3098911A1/de
Publication of EP3098911A4 publication Critical patent/EP3098911A4/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3098911B1 publication Critical patent/EP3098911B1/de
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
    • H01S3/10—Controlling the intensity, frequency, phase, polarisation or direction of the emitted radiation, e.g. switching, gating, modulating or demodulating
    • H01S3/13—Stabilisation of laser output parameters, e.g. frequency or amplitude
    • H01S3/131—Stabilisation of laser output parameters, e.g. frequency or amplitude by controlling the active medium, e.g. by controlling the processes or apparatus for excitation
    • H01S3/1312—Stabilisation of laser output parameters, e.g. frequency or amplitude by controlling the active medium, e.g. by controlling the processes or apparatus for excitation by controlling the optical pumping
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
    • H01S3/05—Construction or shape of optical resonators; Accommodation of active medium therein; Shape of active medium
    • H01S3/06—Construction or shape of active medium
    • H01S3/063—Waveguide lasers, i.e. whereby the dimensions of the waveguide are of the order of the light wavelength
    • H01S3/067—Fibre lasers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
    • H01S3/09—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping
    • H01S3/091—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping
    • H01S3/094—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping by coherent light
    • H01S3/0941—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping by coherent light of a laser diode
    • H01S3/09415—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping by coherent light of a laser diode the pumping beam being parallel to the lasing mode of the pumped medium, e.g. end-pumping
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
    • H01S3/10—Controlling the intensity, frequency, phase, polarisation or direction of the emitted radiation, e.g. switching, gating, modulating or demodulating
    • H01S3/13—Stabilisation of laser output parameters, e.g. frequency or amplitude
    • H01S3/1301—Stabilisation of laser output parameters, e.g. frequency or amplitude in optical amplifiers
    • H01S3/13013—Stabilisation of laser output parameters, e.g. frequency or amplitude in optical amplifiers by controlling the optical pumping
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S5/00—Semiconductor lasers
    • H01S5/04—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping, e.g. by electron beams
    • H01S5/042—Electrical excitation ; Circuits therefor
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S5/00—Semiconductor lasers
    • H01S5/06—Arrangements for controlling the laser output parameters, e.g. by operating on the active medium
    • H01S5/068—Stabilisation of laser output parameters
    • H01S5/06825—Protecting the laser, e.g. during switch-on/off, detection of malfunctioning or degradation
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S5/00—Semiconductor lasers
    • H01S5/06—Arrangements for controlling the laser output parameters, e.g. by operating on the active medium
    • H01S5/068—Stabilisation of laser output parameters
    • H01S5/0683—Stabilisation of laser output parameters by monitoring the optical output parameters
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S5/00—Semiconductor lasers
    • H01S5/06—Arrangements for controlling the laser output parameters, e.g. by operating on the active medium
    • H01S5/068—Stabilisation of laser output parameters
    • H01S5/0683—Stabilisation of laser output parameters by monitoring the optical output parameters
    • H01S5/0687—Stabilising the frequency of the laser
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S5/00—Semiconductor lasers
    • H01S5/40—Arrangement of two or more semiconductor lasers, not provided for in groups H01S5/02 - H01S5/30
    • H01S5/4012—Beam combining, e.g. by the use of fibres, gratings, polarisers, prisms
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S5/00—Semiconductor lasers
    • H01S5/40—Arrangement of two or more semiconductor lasers, not provided for in groups H01S5/02 - H01S5/30
    • H01S5/4025—Array arrangements, e.g. constituted by discrete laser diodes or laser bar
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
    • H01S3/09—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping
    • H01S3/091—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping
    • H01S3/094—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping by coherent light
    • H01S3/094049—Guiding of the pump light
    • H01S3/094053—Fibre coupled pump, e.g. delivering pump light using a fibre or a fibre bundle
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
    • H01S3/09—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping
    • H01S3/091—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping
    • H01S3/094—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping by coherent light
    • H01S3/09408—Pump redundancy
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
    • H01S3/10—Controlling the intensity, frequency, phase, polarisation or direction of the emitted radiation, e.g. switching, gating, modulating or demodulating
    • H01S3/13—Stabilisation of laser output parameters, e.g. frequency or amplitude
    • H01S3/1305—Feedback control systems
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
    • H01S3/23—Arrangements of two or more lasers not provided for in groups H01S3/02 - H01S3/22, e.g. tandem arrangements of separate active media
    • H01S3/2383—Parallel arrangements

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to (i) a control method for controlling a driving current for emitting excitation light, (ii) a control device, and (iii) a light source device.
  • a fiber laser for generating high-power laser light by (i) introducing, into an amplifying optical fiber, excitation light emitted from a laser diode (a laser light source) and (ii) amplifying laser light in the amplifying optical fiber.
  • a fiber laser can generate higher-power laser light by, particularly, (i) combining a plurality of beams of excitation light emitted from a plurality of laser diodes and (ii) introducing the combined excitation light into the amplifying optical fiber.
  • the high-power laser light which has been outputted from such a fiber laser is used in, for example, laser processing or the like.
  • a fiber laser device including a plurality of laser diodes which emit excitation light controls individual driving currents for the respective plurality of laser diodes.
  • This allows the plurality of laser diodes to be uniform in load (e.g., an electric current flowing in the laser diodes, a temperature of the laser diodes themselves or an ambient temperature of the laser diodes, and the like).
  • load e.g., an electric current flowing in the laser diodes, a temperature of the laser diodes themselves or an ambient temperature of the laser diodes, and the like.
  • a driving current for an excitation light source element which is deteriorated is reduced and a driving current for an excitation light source element which is not deteriorated is increased.
  • This allows the multiport optical amplifier to maintain an intended excitation light power.
  • it is possible to uniformize lives of the plurality of excitation light source elements as much as possible, so that a usable period of the multiport optical amplifier can be maximally extended.
  • Patent Literature 3 discloses an optical amplifier apparatus comprising a working laser 2 and a stand-by laser 3. Once the working laser 2 deteriorates the operation of the laser driver circuit 8 of the working laser is stopped, whereby the working and stand-by systems are switched.
  • Patent Literature 4 discloses a semiconductor laser device comprising determination means 5 for serially updating the amounts of the control of distribution to laser diode elements according to the amounts of optical output detected by individual photodetection means 4a, 4b, 4c for detecting optical output from the laser diode elements 1a, 1b, 1c, respectively, and sending out control signal to driving means 3a, 3b, 3c.
  • Patent Literature 4 shows a method of adapting the load distribution of a set of laser light sources.
  • a laser light source which does not actually need to be replaced may be replaced, and this may cause a reduction in use efficiency of the plurality of laser light sources.
  • Such a problem may similarly occur in a light source device in which an LD module including a plurality of laser diodes is employed as a laser light source.
  • the LD module including the plurality of laser diodes it is highly possible that the entire LD module needs to be replaced even though only one or some of the plurality of laser diodes have broken down, and this may further reduce use efficiency of the plurality of laser diodes.
  • the present invention is accomplished in view of the problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a light source device capable of increasing use efficiency of a laser light source while reducing time and labor required for replacement of the laser light source.
  • the present invention can provide a light source device capable of increasing use efficiency of a laser light source while reducing time and labor required for a replacement of the laser light source.
  • Fig. 1 is a view illustrating the configuration of the fiber laser 100 in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.
  • the fiber laser 100 illustrated in Fig. 1 is a device for (i) generating output light, which is high-power laser light, by utilizing amplifying action on excitation light (laser light) emitted from a plurality of laser diode (LD) modules (laser light sources) and (ii) outputting the output light.
  • the fiber laser 100 includes a plurality of sub-units 110.
  • Each of the plurality of sub-units 110 includes a plurality of LD modules 112, a plurality of LD power sources 114, a plurality of LD drivers 115, a pump combiner 116, and an amplifying fiber 118.
  • the amplifying fiber 118 can be replaced with a YAG crystal. That is, the fiber laser can be replaced with a YAG laser.
  • the fiber laser 100 includes n (n is a natural number not less than 1) sub-units 110 (sub-units 110A, 110B, ..., 110n).
  • each of the sub-units 110 includes 18 LD modules 112, three LD power sources 114, and three LD drivers 115. That is, each of the sub-units 110 is configured such that six LD modules 112 are driven by a single LD power source 114 and a single LD driver 115.
  • Each of the plurality of LD modules 112 is a so-called multi-chip LD module including a plurality of laser diodes.
  • Each of the plurality of laser diodes is driven, by a driving current which is supplied from the LD power source 114, based on control by the LD driver 115. This causes each of the plurality of laser diodes to generate excitation light having an intensity corresponding to the driving current supplied from the LD power source 114.
  • the rays of excitation light which have been generated by the respective plurality of laser diodes are combined by the LD module 112 into high-power excitation light, and the high-power excitation light is then emitted from the LD module 112.
  • high-power excitation light is emitted from each of the plurality of LD modules 112.
  • each of the plurality of LD modules 112 can output excitation light by driving the other ones of the plurality of laser diodes in a so-called short-circuit mode.
  • a so-called short-circuit mode For example, in a case where, in an LD module 112 including ten laser diodes, one of the ten laser diodes has broken down, it is possible to output, by driving the other nine laser diodes, excitation light having an intensity that is nine-tenths of an intensity obtained before the breakdown. Note, however, that it is also possible to output, by enhancing the driving current, excitation light having an intensity which is identical with the intensity obtained before the breakdown.
  • each of the plurality of sub-units 110 rays of excitation light emitted from the plurality of LD modules 112 are introduced into the pump combiner 116 via optical fibers, combined by the pump combiner 116 into combined excitation light, and the combined excitation light is then introduced into the amplifying fiber 118.
  • the amplifying fiber 118 high-power laser light is generated by amplifying the combined excitation light, and then the high-power laser light is output from the sub-unit 110.
  • the amplifying fiber 118 is an optical fiber (a double clad fiber) in which a laser medium (e.g., a rare earth ion) that (i) absorbs excitation light and (ii) shifts to a population inversion state is added to a core. While propagating in the amplifying fiber 118, excitation light that has entered the amplifying fiber 118 causes the laser medium added to the core to shift to the population inversion state. Then, laser light which has been induced and emitted from the laser medium that had shifted to the population inversion state (i) resonates and is recursively amplified in the amplifying fiber 118 and (ii) is then emitted from the amplifying fiber 118.
  • a laser medium e.g., a rare earth ion
  • rays of high-power laser light are outputted from the respective plurality of sub-units 110 in the fiber laser 100.
  • the rays of high-power laser light outputted from the respective plurality of sub-units 110 are combined by a combiner or the like (not illustrated) into output light having a higher power, and the output light thus generated is then outputted from the fiber laser 100.
  • the fiber laser 100 illustrated in Fig. 1 further includes a control circuit 120 and a photo diode (PD) 130.
  • the control circuit 120 and the PD 130 each function as a control device for controlling a light source device (i.e., the plurality of sub-units 110).
  • the control circuit 120 controls a driving current for driving the LD modules 112.
  • the PD 130 is a so-called light intensity monitor and detects an intensity of output light outputted from the fiber laser 100.
  • the PD 130 is connected to the control circuit 120 by a communication cable or the like, and the intensity of the output light detected by the PD 130 is fed back to the control circuit 120.
  • the control circuit 120 controls, based on the intensity of the output light fed back from the PD 130, the driving current so that the output light maintains a predetermined intensity.
  • an intensity of output light outputted from the fiber laser 100 may decrease due to a decrease in intensity of excitation light outputted from the LD module 112.
  • the PD 130 detects the intensity of the output light and then feeds back the intensity thus detected to the control circuit 120.
  • the control circuit 120 increases a driving current for LD modules 112 belonging to a specific group so that the intensity of the output light becomes a predetermined intensity. In a case where the intensity of the output light further decrease, the control circuit 120 further increases the driving current for the LD modules 112 belonging to the specific group.
  • a "group” is a unit of control of a driving current for LD modules and is predefined in the fiber laser 100.
  • Each group includes one or more LD modules 112, and a driving current for one or more LD modules 112 of one group can be controlled independently from another group.
  • each of the sub-units 110 is regarded as a group. That is, in the fiber laser 100 illustrated in Fig. 1 including the n sub-units 110, n groups are set accordingly, and each of the n groups includes 18 LD modules.
  • the control circuit 120 includes a driving current control section 122, a control target switching section 124, a driving current initializing section 126, and a priority setting section 128.
  • the control circuit 120 includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), and the like, and each function of the control circuit 120 is carried out in a case where a program stored in the ROM, the RAM, or the like is executed by the CPU. Note, however, that the each function of the control circuit 120 can be carried out on an integrated circuit such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).
  • FPGA field programmable gate array
  • ASIC application specific integrated circuit
  • the driving current control section 122 increases a driving current for LD modules 112 belonging to a specific group among the plurality of groups. This causes an increase in intensity of excitation light which is emitted from the LD modules 112 belonging to the specific group, and an intensity of output light outputted from the fiber laser 100 is consequently maintained at a given intensity.
  • the control target switching section 124 switches, to another group which is not the specific group, a target group for which a driving current is to be increased.
  • the control target switching section 124 switches the target group in a predetermined descending order of priority.
  • the upper limit threshold can be, for example, a maximum rated current for an LD module, but the upper limit threshold is not limited to this. Note, however, that, in a case where the upper limit threshold is set to a value not more than the maximum rated current, at least an operation of the LD module is guaranteed, and it is therefore possible to continue to use the LD module until the LD module is replaced.
  • the driving current initializing section 126 restores, to an initial current, the driving current for the LD modules 112 belonging to the specific group.
  • the priority setting section 128 sets an order of priority so that the specific group, in which at least one of the components has been replaced, has a lowest priority for being selected as a target group for which a driving current is to be increased.
  • each of the sub-units 110 is regarded as a group, and therefore replacement of component is to be carried out for each of the sub-units 110.
  • the driving current initializing section 126 restores, to an initial current, a driving current for the sub-unit 110 in which the replacement of component has been carried out and
  • the priority setting section 128 sets, to lowest, a priority of the sub-unit 110 in which the replacement of component has been carried out.
  • each of the sub-units 110 a plurality of components (including a plurality of LD modules 112) are integrally provided.
  • the fiber laser 100 in accordance with Embodiment 1 it is therefore possible to integrally replace all components constituting a sub-unit 110 by replacing the sub-unit 110.
  • it is also possible to replace only a component which needs to be replaced e.g., only an LD module 112, if such a component is deteriorated).
  • the control circuit 120 can recognize the replacement based on, for example, a manual input which is carried out by an operator. Alternatively, the control circuit 120 can automatically recognize the replacement by carrying out intercommunication with the sub-units 110. In the latter case, the control circuit 120 can automatically recognize the replacement through, for example, a change in ID of an LD module, ID of a sub-unit, or the like.
  • Fig. 2 is a flow chart showing a procedure for a first process to be carried out by the fiber laser 100 in accordance with Embodiment 1.
  • the first process is a process to be carried out by the fiber laser 100 in order to correct a decrease in intensity of output light outputted from the fiber laser 100.
  • the control circuit 120 sets in advance "1" as a variable N indicative of a number which is assigned to a sub-unit 110 for which a driving current is to be controlled (step S202).
  • a defect has occurred in any of the LD modules 112 in the fiber laser 100 (step S204)
  • an intensity of output light outputted from the fiber laser 100 decreases accordingly (step S206).
  • the PD 130 detects the decrease in intensity of the output light (step S208).
  • the control circuit 120 increases, in accordance with the decrease in intensity of the output light which decrease has been detected by the PD 130, a driving current for LD modules 112 belonging to an n-th sub-unit 110 (i.e., an n-th group) so that the intensity of the output light becomes a given intensity (step S210).
  • the control circuit 120 determines whether or not the driving current for the LD modules 112 belonging to the n-th sub-unit 110 has reached the maximum rated current (step S212).
  • step S212 the control circuit 120 (the control target switching section 124) adds "1" to the variable N (step S214). That is, the control circuit 120 (the control target switching section 124) switches, to an (N+1)th sub-unit 110 (i.e., an (N+1)th group), a sub-unit 110 for which a driving current is to be controlled.
  • the fiber laser 100 then returns the process to the step S204.
  • step S212 the fiber laser 100 returns the process to the step S204 without changing the variable N. That is, until the control circuit 120 determines that "the driving current has reached the maximum rated current", the control circuit 120 does not switch the sub-unit 110 for which a driving current is to be controlled.
  • Fig. 3 is a flow chart showing a procedure for a second process to be carried out by the fiber laser 100 in accordance with Embodiment 1.
  • the second process is a process to be carried out by the fiber laser 100 due to replacement of a sub-unit 110.
  • a sub-unit 110 (an m-th sub-unit) in which a component is to be replaced is, for example, a sub-unit 110 for which a driving current has reached the maximum rated current in the first process (see Fig. 2 ).
  • a driving current for a first sub-unit 110 first reaches the maximum rated current in the first process. Therefore, the first sub-unit 110 can first be a sub-unit 110 in which a component is to be replaced.
  • the control circuit 120 restores, to an initial current, a driving current for LD modules 112 belonging to the m-th sub-unit 110 (step S304).
  • the control circuit 120 (the priority setting section 128) then sets the m-th sub-unit 110 to have a lowest priority. This causes the m-th sub-unit 110 to be selected, as a sub-unit 110 for which a driving current is to be increased, after the other sub-units 110 in the processes which are shown in Fig. 2 and carried out after this.
  • Fig. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a fiber laser 100A (in a state in which a defect has not occurred) in accordance with the present example.
  • Fig. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the fiber laser 100A (in a state in which a defect has occurred) in accordance with the present example.
  • Fig. 6 is a graph showing a temporal change in driving current which is applied to each of groups in the fiber laser 100A in accordance with the present example.
  • the fiber laser 100A in accordance with the present example has a configuration which is obtained by changing a part of the configuration (particularly, a unit of group) of the fiber laser 100 (see Fig. 1 ).
  • Components included in the fiber laser 100A have functions similar to those of the fiber laser 100.
  • the fiber laser 100A in accordance with the present example includes 18 LD modules 112.
  • the 18 LD modules 112 are grouped in a unit of six LD modules 112, and thus constitute three groups (a group A, a group B, a group C).
  • one LD power source 114 and one LD driver 115 are provided for each of the three groups. This allows LD modules 112 belonging to each of the three groups to be controlled independently from the other groups.
  • Rays of excitation light emitted from the 18 LD modules 112 are combined by a pump combiner 116 into combined excitation light, and the combined excitation light is then introduced into an amplifying fiber 118.
  • An intensity of the high-power laser light is detected by a PD 130 and is then fed back to a control circuit 120.
  • the fiber laser 100A in accordance with the present example obtains output light having a given intensity (1 KW) by driving the LD modules 112 by a driving current Io (initial current: 8A). Therefore, the control circuit 120 instructs each of LD drivers 115 to drive LD modules 112 by the driving current Io (initial current: 8A) while an intensity of the output light which intensity has been detected by the PD 130 is a given intensity (see Fig. 4 ).
  • the fiber laser 100A in accordance with the present example maintains the intensity of the output light at a given intensity (1 KW) by increasing a driving current for LD modules 112 belonging to a specific group so that an intensity of excitation light of the specific group increases.
  • the group A is set as a specific group, and a driving current for the group A is increased to a driving current I 0 +I in accordance with occurrence of a defect in an LD module 112 (LD3B) of the group B. This allows output light outputted from the fiber laser 100A to be maintained at a given intensity (1 KW).
  • control circuit 120 can calculate the increase amount I in driving current based on a decrease amount in intensity of the output light. Alternatively, the control circuit 120 can gradually increase an intensity of the output light while monitoring the intensity of the output light. Note that driving currents for the respective groups B and C are maintained at the driving current I 0 .
  • the control circuit 120 in accordance with the present example increases a driving current for the group A until the driving current for the group A reaches the maximum rated current (15A). Moreover, in a case where the driving current for the group A has reached the maximum rated current (at a timing T1 shown in Fig. 6 ), the control circuit 120 switches, to the group B, a target group for which a driving current is to be controlled. Subsequently, in a case where the intensity of the output light has decreased, the control circuit 120 increases the driving current for the group B. As such, each time a driving current for a target group for which a driving current is to be increased reaches the maximum rated current, the control circuit 120 in accordance with the present example sequentially switches the target group for which a driving current is to be increased.
  • the fiber laser 100 in accordance with Embodiment 1 increases a driving current for a specific sub-unit 110 each time an intensity of output light outputted from the fiber laser 100 has decreased. This allows the fiber laser 100 in accordance with Embodiment 1 to stably emit output light having a given intensity, and it is further possible to concentrate, on the specific sub-unit 110, a risk (e.g., acceleration of progress of deterioration, an increase in rate of occurrence of defect, etc.) which is caused due to the increase in driving current.
  • a risk e.g., acceleration of progress of deterioration, an increase in rate of occurrence of defect, etc.
  • the fiber laser 100 in accordance with Embodiment 1 switches, to another group (one of groups for which driving currents have not reached the maximum rated current), a target group for which a driving current is to be increased.
  • a driving current for a group for which the driving current has been increased does not exceed the maximum rated current, and this allows the group to continue to operate in a relatively stable manner until the group is replaced.
  • a fiber laser 101 in accordance with Embodiment 2 has a configuration similar to that of the fiber laser 100 described above.
  • a driving current control section 122 of a control circuit 120 of the fiber laser 101 increases, in accordance with an intensity of output light which intensity has been fed back from a PD 130, a driving current for LD modules 112 belonging to a specific group so that the output light maintains a predetermined intensity.
  • the driving current for the LD modules 112 belonging to the specific group is set so as to be higher than a driving current for LD modules belonging to other groups.
  • a control target switching section 124 switches a target group, for which a driving current is to be increased, from the specific group to another group other than the specific group in accordance with a predetermined order of priority.
  • a driving current initializing section 126 and a priority setting section 128 operate in a manner similar to those of the fiber laser 100.
  • Fig. 7 is a graph showing a temporal change in driving current which is applied to each of the groups in the fiber laser 101 in accordance with Embodiment 2.
  • Fig. 8 is a flow chart showing a procedure for a first process to be carried out by the fiber laser 101 in accordance with Embodiment 2.
  • steps S202 through S208 are similar to those carried out by the fiber laser 100 illustrated in Fig. 2 .
  • control target switching section 124 switches, to a given second sub-unit (group 2, another group) 110, a target sub-unit for which a driving current is to be controlled (step S214), and then (ii) returns the process to the step S204.
  • a target sub-unit 110 for which a driving current is to be reduced is a sub-unit 110 which is not a sub-unit 110 (in this case, the first sub-unit 110) for which a driving current has reached the maximum rated current.
  • an initial driving current for a sub-unit 110 which is the group 2 after the switching of the target sub-unit 110 is set to a current which is higher, by a certain degree, than a final driving current for the sub-unit 110 which is the group 2 before the switching.
  • an initial driving current for a sub-unit 110 which is the group 3 after the switching of the target sub-unit 110 is set to a current which is lower, by a certain degree, than a final driving current for the sub-unit 110 which is the group 3 before the switching.
  • processes in and subsequent to the step S212 are similarly repeated.
  • a procedure for a second process in the fiber laser 101 is similar to that in the fiber laser 100 (shown in Fig. 3 ).
  • the fiber laser 101 in accordance with the present example is configured such that, in a case where no defect occurs in the LD modules 112, a driving current for the LD modules 112 is controlled so that output light having a given intensity (e.g., 1 KW) is obtained.
  • a driving current for the LD modules 112 in the group 1 (a specific group) is set to a current higher than an average current Iave for the LD modules 112 in the groups 1 through 3.
  • Initial driving currents for the LD modules 112 in the groups 2 and 3 are set to currents lower than the average current Iave.
  • the fiber laser 101 carries out the above described control with respect to the LD modules 112 so that the output light is maintained at a given intensity (e.g., 1 KW).
  • the fiber laser 101 in accordance with Embodiment 2 increases a driving current for only a specific sub-unit 110, as with the fiber laser 100. This allows the fiber laser 101 to (i) stably emit output light having a given intensity and (ii) concentrate, on the specific sub-unit 110, a risk (e.g., acceleration of progress of deterioration, an increase in rate of occurrence of defect, etc.) which is caused due to the increase in driving current.
  • a risk e.g., acceleration of progress of deterioration, an increase in rate of occurrence of defect, etc.
  • the fiber laser 101 switches a sub-unit 110, for which a driving current is to be increased, from a first sub-unit to a second sub-unit, and (ii) reduces a driving current for a sub-unit 110 which is not the second sub-unit and for which a driving current has not reached the maximum rated current.
  • an initial driving current for a sub-unit 110 which is the group 2 after the switching of the target sub-unit 110 is set to a current which is higher, by a certain degree, than a final driving current for the sub-unit 110 which is the group 2 before the switching.
  • an initial driving current for a sub-unit 110 which is the group 3 after the switching of the target sub-unit 110 is set to a current which is lower, by a certain degree, than a final driving current for the sub-unit 110 which is the group 3 before the switching.
  • the target sub-unit 110 for which a driving current is to be increased is switched from the specific sub-unit 110 to another sub-unit 110, it is possible to concentrate, on the another sub-unit 110 to which the target sub-unit 110 has been thus switched, a risk caused due to the increase in driving current, as with the specific sub-unit 110. Therefore, necessity of replacement of a component can be concentrated on the group.
  • an initial driving current for a first sub-unit 110 for which a driving current is to be increased is set to a current higher than an initial driving current for another sub-unit 110 for which a driving current is not to be increased.
  • Fig. 7 shows an example in which the above configuration is applied to the fiber laser 101. Note, however, that the configuration is not essential to the fiber laser 101. Moreover, the configuration is also applicable to the fiber laser 100 described earlier.
  • the fiber lasers 100 and 101 can be configured to (i) initially drive the sub-units (groups) 110 at a rated current and then (ii) carry out the first process in a case where some degree or more of defect has been detected in any of the sub-units 110.
  • the fiber lasers 100 and 101 can be configured to carry out the first process in a case where the defect is detected while the driving current for all of the sub-units 110 is being increased.
  • a sub-unit is regarded as a group.
  • a group at least (i) includes one or more LD modules and (ii) is configured so that a driving current for the one or more LD modules can be controlled independently from another group.
  • a driving current for the one or more LD modules can be controlled independently from another group.
  • a unit of group is more preferably a unit in which a plurality of LD modules are integrally replaceable.
  • the sub-unit includes the LD power source, the LD driver, the pump combiner, and the amplifying fiber.
  • the sub-unit can be configured not to include at least one of the LD power source, the LD driver, the pump combiner, and the amplifying fiber.
  • the sub-unit can be configured (i) to include an LD power source, an LD driver, and an LD module and (ii) not to include a pump combiner and an amplifying fiber.
  • an intensity of output light (another laser light which changes in intensity in accordance with an intensity of laser light emitted from the laser light source) outputted from the fiber laser is detected.
  • laser light of which intensity is to be detected is not limited to this.
  • An intensity of output light outputted from the fiber laser depends on an intensity of any laser light (including excitation light) which exists for generating the output light. Therefore, detection of the intensity of such laser light is synonymous with detection of the intensity of the output light outputted from the fiber laser.
  • the detection method it is possible to notify, from an outside of the fiber laser (i.e., an output destination to which the fiber laser outputs light), a decrease in intensity of output light outputted from the fiber laser.
  • an outside of the fiber laser i.e., an output destination to which the fiber laser outputs light
  • the decrease in intensity can be notified to the control circuit 120 via communication between the detecting section and the control circuit 120.
  • the detection method of detecting an intensity of output light outputted from the fiber laser is not limited to the detection carried out by the PD.
  • the decrease in intensity can be notified to the control circuit 120 via an input by the user to a terminal.
  • the LD module including a plurality of laser diodes is employed as an example of the laser light source.
  • the embodiments are not limited to this.
  • a control method in accordance with the present invention is a control method of controlling a light source device which (i) includes a plurality of laser light sources constituting each of a plurality of groups and (ii) emits laser light from the plurality of laser light sources, the control method including the steps of: (a) detecting an intensity of the laser light or another intensity of another laser light, the another intensity changing in accordance with the intensity of the laser light; and (b) controlling a driving current so that, in a case where the intensity or the another intensity which has been detected in the step (a) is lower than a predetermined lower limit threshold, only a driving current for laser light sources belonging to a specific group predetermined among the plurality of groups is increased.
  • a target group for which a driving current is to be increased is limited to a specific group. This makes it possible to concentrate, on the specific group, a risk (e.g., typically, a risk that deterioration in laser light sources is rapidly accelerated when a driving current for the laser light sources has been increased, such as a risk of acceleration of progress of deterioration in the laser light sources and a risk of an increase in rate of occurrence of defect) which is caused due to the increase in driving current.
  • a risk e.g., typically, a risk that deterioration in laser light sources is rapidly accelerated when a driving current for the laser light sources has been increased, such as a risk of acceleration of progress of deterioration in the laser light sources and a risk of an increase in rate of occurrence of defect
  • the control method preferably further includes the step of: (c) switching a target group, for which a driving current is to be increased, from the specific group to one of the other groups in a case where the driving current for the specific group has reached a predetermined upper limit threshold, the other groups being included in the plurality of groups and being not the specific group.
  • the driving current for the specific group is increased, the driving current does not exceed the upper limit threshold. This allows the specific group to continue to operate in a relatively stable manner until the specific group is replaced.
  • the control method is preferably configured such that in the step (b), in a case where the target group has been switched in the step (c) from a first group which is the specific group to a second group which is included in the other groups, (i) an initial driving current for the second group after the switching is set to a driving current higher than a final driving current for the second group before the switching and (ii) an initial driving current for a group after the switching is set to a driving current lower than a final driving current for the group before the switching, the group being included in the other groups and being not the second group.
  • a current to be increased with a current to be reduced so that a total output becomes constant as much as possible.
  • a setting start time point and a setting end time point of the current to be increased are preferably identical to those of the current to be reduced.
  • the control method is preferably configured such that, in the step (c), the target group is switched in a descending order of priority which has been predetermined for the other groups, the control method further including the steps of: (d) initializing a driving current so that, in a case where at least one of components has been replaced in a group for which a driving current had been increased, the driving current for the group is restored to an initial driving current; and (e) setting an order of priority so that the group for which the driving current has been restored to the initial driving current has a lowest priority.
  • the configuration (i) allows the laser light sources in each of the groups to have a longer life as much as possible and (ii) allows a replacement cycle of the laser light sources in each of the groups to be longest. This makes it possible to increase use efficiency of the laser light sources while reducing time and cost which are required for replacement of the laser light sources.
  • the control method is preferably configured such that the driving current for the laser light sources belonging to the specific group is set in advance so as to be higher than a driving current for laser light sources belonging to the other groups.
  • each of the plurality of laser light sources is an LD module including a plurality of laser diodes.
  • the control method is preferably configured such that the target group is switched in the step (c) for each sub-unit in which a plurality of laser light sources are included in an integrally replaceable manner.
  • a sub-unit typically includes, in addition to the laser light sources, other components (e.g., a heat radiating resin, and the like) which are deteriorated with age. With the configuration, it is therefore possible to simultaneously replace such other components.
  • the present invention is suitably applicable to a light source device, such as a fiber laser or a fiber amplifier, including a plurality of laser diodes as light sources.
  • a light source device such as a fiber laser or a fiber amplifier, including a plurality of laser diodes as light sources.
  • the present invention is suitably applicable to a light source device in which a plurality of multi-chip LD modules are employed as light sources.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Condensed Matter Physics & Semiconductors (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • Semiconductor Lasers (AREA)
  • Lasers (AREA)
  • Laser Beam Processing (AREA)
  • Automation & Control Theory (AREA)

Claims (12)

  1. Steuerverfahren zum Steuern einer Lichtquellen-Vorrichtung (100), welche (i) eine Mehrzahl von Gruppen (110) von Laser-Lichtquellen (112) umfasst und (ii) gleichzeitig Laserlicht von den Laser-Lichtquellen emittiert, wobei jede aus der Mehrzahl von Gruppen aus wenigstens einer Laser-Lichtquelle aufgebaut ist, wobei das Steuerverfahren die Schritte umfasst:
    (a) Detektieren mit einem einzelnen Detektor (130) einer Laserlicht-Intensität, wobei die Laserlicht-Intensität entweder in einer ersten Alternative eine Gesamtintensität ist, wobei die Gesamtintensität die Intensität des Laserlichts ist, welches von der Lichtquellen-Vorrichtung (100) ausgegeben wird, oder in einer zweiten Alternative eine andere Intensität ist, wobei die andere Intensität die Intensität ist von entweder:
    - einem Anregungs-Laserlicht, welches von der Mehrzahl von Laser-Lichtquellen (112) emittiert wird, oder
    - ein kombiniertes Anregungslicht, welches von einem Pump-Kombinationselement (116) emittiert wird, welches Strahlen von Anregungslicht kombiniert, welche von der Mehrzahl von Laser-Lichtquellen (112) emittiert werden;
    wobei die Gesamtintensität von der anderen Intensität abhängt; und
    (b) Steuern eines Treiberstroms derart, dass in einem Fall, in welchem die Laser-Lichtintensität, welche in dem Schritt (a) detektiert worden ist, geringer als ein vorbestimmter unterer Grenz-Schwellenwert ist, lediglich ein Treiberstrom für alle der wenigstens einen Laser-Lichtquelle, welche zu einer spezifischen Gruppe gehören, welche aus der Mehrzahl von Gruppen vorbestimmt wird, erhöht wird.
  2. Steuerverfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei:
    die Gesamtintensität des von der Lichtquellen-Vorrichtung (100) ausgegebenen Laserlichts eine Intensität von Laserlicht ist, welches durch eine Verstärkungsfaser (118) hindurchgetreten ist.
  3. Steuerverfahren nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, ferner umfassend den Schritt:
    (c) Umschalten einer Zielgruppe, für welche ein Treiberstrom zu erhöhen ist, von der spezifischen Gruppe zu einer vorbestimmten der anderen Gruppen in einem Fall, in welchem der Treiberstrom für die spezifische Gruppe einen vorbestimmten oberen Grenz-Schwellenwert erreicht hat, wobei die anderen Gruppen in der Mehrzahl von Gruppen enthalten sind und nicht die spezifische Gruppe sind.
  4. Steuerverfahren nach Anspruch 3, wobei in dem Schritt (b) in einem Fall, in welchem die Zielgruppe in dem Schritt (c) von einer ersten Gruppe, welche die spezifische Gruppe ist, zu einer zweiten Gruppe umgeschaltet worden ist, welche in den anderen Gruppen enthalten ist, (i) ein anfänglicher Treiberstrom für die zweite Gruppe nach dem Umschalten auf einen Treiberstrom gesetzt wird, welcher höher als ein finaler Treiberstrom für die zweite Gruppe vor dem Umschalten ist, und (ii) ein anfänglicher Treiberstrom für eine Gruppe nach dem Umschalten auf einen Treiberstrom gesetzt wird, welcher geringer als ein finaler Treiberstrom für die Gruppe vor dem Umschalten ist, wobei die Gruppe in den anderen Gruppen enthalten ist und nicht die zweite Gruppe ist.
  5. Steuerverfahren nach Anspruch 3 oder 4, wobei in dem Schritt (c) die Zielgruppe in einer absteigenden Reihenfolge einer Priorität umgeschaltet wird, welche für die anderen Gruppen vorbestimmt worden ist, wobei das Steuerverfahren ferner die Schritte umfasst:
    (d) Initialisieren eines Treiberstroms derart, dass in einem Fall, in welchem wenigstens eine der Komponenten in einer Gruppe ersetzt worden ist, für welche ein Treiberstrom erhöht worden war, der Treiberstrom für die Gruppe auf einen anfänglichen Treiberstrom zurückgesetzt wird; und
    (e) Setzen einer Reihenfolge einer Priorität derart, dass die Gruppe, für welche der Treiberstrom auf den anfänglichen Treiberstrom zurückgesetzt worden ist, eine niedrigste Priorität aufweist.
  6. Steuerverfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, wobei der Treiberstrom für alle aus den wenigstens einen Laser-Lichtquellen, welche zu der spezifischen Gruppe gehören, zuvor derart gesetzt wird, dass er höher als ein Treiberstrom für Laser-Lichtquellen ist, welche zu den anderen Gruppen gehören.
  7. Steuerverfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 3 bis 5, wobei:
    jede der Mehrzahl von Gruppen (110) eine Untereinheit ist, welche eine Mehrzahl von Laser-Lichtquellen umfasst; und
    in dem Schritt (c) eine spezifische Untereinheit auf eine vorbestimmte andere Untereinheit umgeschaltet wird, welche nicht die spezifische Untereinheit ist.
  8. Steuerverfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7, wobei jede aus der Mehrzahl von Laser-Lichtquellen (112) ein LD-Modul ist, welches eine Mehrzahl von Laserdioden umfasst.
  9. Steuervorrichtung (120, 130), welche dazu eingerichtet ist, eine Lichtquellen-Vorrichtung (100) zu steuern, welche (i) eine Mehrzahl von Gruppen (110) von Laser-Lichtquellen (112) umfasst, so dass (ii) die Laser-Lichtquellen (112) gleichzeitig Laserlicht emittieren, wobei jede der Mehrzahl von Gruppen (110) aus wenigstens einer Laser-Lichtquelle aufgebaut ist, wobei die Steuervorrichtung umfasst:
    einen Detektionsabschnitt, welcher dazu eingerichtet ist, mit einem einzelnen Detektor (130) eine Laserlicht-Intensität zu detektieren, wobei die Laserlicht-Intensität entweder in einer ersten Alternative eine Gesamtintensität ist, wobei die Gesamtintensität die Intensität des Laserlichts ist, welches von der Lichtquellen-Vorrichtung (100) ausgegeben wird, oder in einer zweiten Alternative eine andere Intensität ist, wobei die andere Intensität die Intensität ist von entweder:
    - einem Anregungs-Laserlicht, welches von der Mehrzahl von Laser-Lichtquellen (112) emittiert wird, oder
    - ein kombiniertes Anregungslicht, welches von einem Pump-Kombinationselement (116) emittiert wird, welches Strahlen von Anregungslicht kombiniert, welche von der Mehrzahl von Laser-Lichtquellen (112) emittiert werden;
    wobei die Gesamtintensität von der anderen Intensität abhängt; und
    einen Treiberstrom-Steuerabschnitt, welcher dazu eingerichtet ist, einen Treiberstrom derart zu steuern, dass in einem Fall, in welchem die Laser-Lichtintensität, welche von dem Detektionsabschnitt detektiert worden ist, geringer als ein vorbestimmter unterer Grenz-Schwellenwert ist, lediglich ein Treiberstrom für alle der wenigstens einen Laser-Lichtquelle, welche zu einer spezifischen Gruppe gehören, welche aus der Mehrzahl von Gruppen vorbestimmt wird, erhöht wird.
  10. Steuervorrichtung nach Anspruch 9, wobei:
    die Gesamtintensität des von der Lichtquellen-Vorrichtung (100) ausgegebenen Laserlichts eine Intensität von Laserlicht ist, welches durch eine Verstärkungsfaser (118) hindurchgetreten ist.
  11. Lichtquellen-Vorrichtung (100), welche eine Mehrzahl von Gruppen (110) von Laser-Lichtquellen (112) umfasst, wobei die Laser-Lichtquellen (112) dazu eingerichtet sind, gleichzeitig Laserlicht zu emittieren, wobei jede aus der Mehrzahl von Gruppen aus wenigstens einer Laser-Lichtquelle aufgebaut ist, wobei die Lichtquellen-Vorrichtung umfasst:
    einen Detektionsabschnitt, welcher dazu eingerichtet ist, mit einem einzelnen Detektor (130) eine Laserlicht-Intensität zu detektieren, wobei die Laserlicht-Intensität entweder in einer ersten Alternative eine Gesamtintensität ist, wobei die Gesamtintensität die Intensität des Laserlichts ist, welches von der Lichtquellen-Vorrichtung (100) ausgegeben wird, oder in einer zweiten Alternative eine andere Intensität ist, wobei die andere Intensität die Intensität ist von entweder:
    - einem Anregungs-Laserlicht, welches von der Mehrzahl von Laser-Lichtquellen (112) emittiert wird, oder
    - ein kombiniertes Anregungslicht, welches von einem Pump-Kombinationselement (116) emittiert wird, welches Strahlen von Anregungslicht kombiniert, welche von der Mehrzahl von Laser-Lichtquellen (112) emittiert werden;
    wobei die Gesamtintensität von der anderen Intensität abhängt; und
    einen Treiberstrom-Steuerabschnitt, welcher dazu eingerichtet ist, einen Treiberstrom derart zu steuern, dass in einem Fall, in welchem die Laser-Lichtintensität, welche von dem Detektionsabschnitt detektiert worden ist, geringer als ein vorbestimmter unterer Grenz-Schwellenwert ist, lediglich ein Treiberstrom für alle der wenigstens einen Laser-Lichtquelle, welche zu einer spezifischen Gruppe gehören, welche aus der Mehrzahl von Gruppen vorbestimmt wird, erhöht wird.
  12. Lichtquellen-Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 11, wobei:
    die Gesamtintensität des von der Lichtquellen-Vorrichtung (100) ausgegebenen Laserlichts eine Intensität von Laserlicht ist, welches durch eine Verstärkungsfaser (118) hindurchgetreten ist.
EP15740832.9A 2014-01-24 2015-01-23 Steuerungsverfahren, steuerungsvorrichtung und lichtquellenvorrichtung Active EP3098911B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2014011858 2014-01-24
PCT/JP2015/051882 WO2015111711A1 (ja) 2014-01-24 2015-01-23 制御方法、制御装置、および光源装置

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3098911A1 EP3098911A1 (de) 2016-11-30
EP3098911A4 EP3098911A4 (de) 2017-02-15
EP3098911B1 true EP3098911B1 (de) 2022-07-27

Family

ID=53681508

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP15740832.9A Active EP3098911B1 (de) 2014-01-24 2015-01-23 Steuerungsverfahren, steuerungsvorrichtung und lichtquellenvorrichtung

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US9923333B2 (de)
EP (1) EP3098911B1 (de)
JP (1) JP6228237B2 (de)
CN (1) CN105874663B (de)
WO (1) WO2015111711A1 (de)

Families Citing this family (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015115301A1 (ja) * 2014-01-30 2015-08-06 三菱電機株式会社 ビーム結合装置およびビーム結合装置の出力回復方法
JP6259435B2 (ja) * 2015-10-28 2018-01-10 ファナック株式会社 レーザ光を合波して出力するレーザ発振器
JP6325506B2 (ja) 2015-11-09 2018-05-16 ファナック株式会社 故障診断機能を有するレーザ装置
US10484091B2 (en) * 2017-06-29 2019-11-19 Osram Sylvania Inc. Light-based fiducial communication
JP6619410B2 (ja) 2017-12-05 2019-12-11 ファナック株式会社 レーザ加工装置
WO2019178284A1 (en) * 2018-03-13 2019-09-19 Nufern Optical fiber amplifier system and methods of using same
JP6513306B1 (ja) * 2018-05-07 2019-05-15 三菱電機株式会社 レーザ装置、レーザ加工機およびレーザ装置の出力制御方法
JP6640920B2 (ja) * 2018-06-12 2020-02-05 株式会社フジクラ ファイバレーザシステム、及び、その制御方法
JP7086922B2 (ja) * 2019-12-26 2022-06-20 株式会社フジクラ ファイバレーザシステム、及び、その制御方法

Family Cites Families (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH043029A (ja) * 1990-04-20 1992-01-08 Fujitsu Ltd 光増幅用ポンピング光源の駆動方法
JP2725109B2 (ja) * 1992-03-06 1998-03-09 富士通株式会社 光増幅装置
JPH1012954A (ja) * 1996-06-26 1998-01-16 Fujitsu Ltd 光増幅器
US5738612A (en) 1996-12-04 1998-04-14 Colin Corporation Exercise apparatus having exercise-load changing function
US7006546B2 (en) * 2000-03-15 2006-02-28 Komatsu Ltd. Gas laser electrode, laser chamber employing the electrode, and gas laser device
JP2003338660A (ja) * 2002-05-20 2003-11-28 Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd 半導体レーザ駆動回路
JP2004214225A (ja) * 2002-12-26 2004-07-29 Toshiba Corp 半導体レーザ装置及び映像表示装置
JP2005317841A (ja) * 2004-04-30 2005-11-10 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd 半導体レーザ装置
KR100837025B1 (ko) * 2004-08-27 2008-06-10 쇼와 덴코 가부시키가이샤 바륨 칼슘 티타네이트, 이의 제조 방법 및 캐패시터
JP4532249B2 (ja) 2004-12-08 2010-08-25 古河電気工業株式会社 光増幅器
JP4768549B2 (ja) * 2006-08-24 2011-09-07 富士通株式会社 光通信用の信号光を増幅するためのラマン光増幅器，ラマン光増幅器を備えた光通信システム，およびラマン光増幅器の制御方法
WO2008041648A1 (fr) * 2006-09-29 2008-04-10 Panasonic Corporation Dispositif d'émission de lumière laser et dispositif d'affichage d'image utilisant celui-ci
CN102959811B (zh) * 2009-12-19 2016-06-29 三流明公司 用于组合用于数字输出的激光器阵列的系统和方法
JP2011187825A (ja) 2010-03-10 2011-09-22 Furukawa Electric Co Ltd:The ファイバレーザ装置およびファイバレーザ装置の制御方法
US9158063B2 (en) * 2011-07-07 2015-10-13 Reald Inc. Apparatus for despeckling laser systems and methods thereof

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2015111711A1 (ja) 2015-07-30
JPWO2015111711A1 (ja) 2017-03-23
EP3098911A1 (de) 2016-11-30
EP3098911A4 (de) 2017-02-15
US20160308328A1 (en) 2016-10-20
US9923333B2 (en) 2018-03-20
JP6228237B2 (ja) 2017-11-08
CN105874663B (zh) 2019-05-17
CN105874663A (zh) 2016-08-17

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP3098911B1 (de) Steuerungsverfahren, steuerungsvorrichtung und lichtquellenvorrichtung
EP3113301B1 (de) Faserlaservorrichtung und verfahren zur erkennung von abnormalitäten
EP2816678B1 (de) Relaisvorrichtung und anregungslichtversorgungsvorrichtung und anregungslichtversorgungsverfahren dafür
EP2458695A1 (de) Faserlasergerät
EP3193412B1 (de) Faserlasersystem und ausgabeverfahren dafür
Kliner Novel, high-brightness, fibre laser platform for kW materials processing applications
JP2012138421A (ja) 半導体レーザ駆動回路および光ファイバパルスレーザ装置
JP2005309250A (ja) ラマン増幅器
EP3516746B1 (de) Optischer verstärker und steuerungsverfahren dafür
EP3370307B1 (de) Faserlasersystem, verfahren zur beurteilung des reflexionswiderstands und verfahren zur verbesserung des reflexionswiderstands dafür und faserlaser
CN110994352A (zh) 可拓展的分布式激光器
US10797463B2 (en) Fiber laser system and method for controlling same
JPH06326383A (ja) 光ファイバ増幅器
US8427739B2 (en) Optical amplifier
EP2975705A1 (de) Optischer verstärker und verfahren zur steuerung davon
JPWO2019003797A1 (ja) 光ファイバ増幅器および光ファイバ増幅システム
US6522675B1 (en) Wavelength control circuit and wavelength control method of light emitting device
JP2000196184A (ja) レ―ザダイオ―ドモジュ―ル
JP6172151B2 (ja) 光増幅器の励起用光源およびその制御方法
EP2086070A2 (de) Optischer Verstärker mit Zeitmultiplex-Pumpenlaser
JPH11274628A (ja) 半導体レーザ駆動装置
JP2000350387A (ja) 光パワー給電装置
JP2006128382A (ja) 光増幅器
JPH06308548A (ja) 光ファイバアンプおよび光ファイバアンプ制御回路
JP2014053398A (ja) 光モジュールの制御方法および光学装置

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20160630

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: BA ME

RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Ipc: H01S 5/40 20060101ALI20170103BHEP

Ipc: H01S 5/062 20060101ALI20170103BHEP

Ipc: H01S 3/13 20060101ALI20170103BHEP

Ipc: H01S 3/0941 20060101ALI20170103BHEP

Ipc: H01S 3/094 20060101ALN20170103BHEP

Ipc: H01S 5/068 20060101ALI20170103BHEP

Ipc: H01S 3/067 20060101ALI20170103BHEP

Ipc: H01S 5/0683 20060101ALI20170103BHEP

Ipc: H01S 3/131 20060101AFI20170103BHEP

A4 Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched

Effective date: 20170113

DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: EXAMINATION IS IN PROGRESS

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20191029

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: EXAMINATION IS IN PROGRESS

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED

RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Ipc: H01S 3/094 20060101ALN20220317BHEP

Ipc: H01S 3/23 20060101ALI20220317BHEP

Ipc: H01S 5/40 20060101ALI20220317BHEP

Ipc: H01S 3/067 20060101ALI20220317BHEP

Ipc: H01S 5/068 20060101ALI20220317BHEP

Ipc: H01S 3/13 20060101ALI20220317BHEP

Ipc: H01S 5/0683 20060101ALI20220317BHEP

Ipc: H01S 5/062 20060101ALI20220317BHEP

Ipc: H01S 3/0941 20060101ALI20220317BHEP

Ipc: H01S 3/131 20060101AFI20220317BHEP

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20220329

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE PATENT HAS BEEN GRANTED

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: REF

Ref document number: 1507717

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20220815

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602015080035

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: LT

Ref legal event code: MG9D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MP

Effective date: 20220727

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220727

Ref country code: RS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220727

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20221128

Ref country code: NO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20221027

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220727

Ref country code: LV

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220727

Ref country code: LT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220727

Ref country code: FI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220727

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220727

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: MK05

Ref document number: 1507717

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20220727

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: PL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220727

Ref country code: IS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20221127

Ref country code: HR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220727

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20221028

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SM

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220727

Ref country code: RO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220727

Ref country code: DK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220727

Ref country code: CZ

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220727

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220727

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 602015080035

Country of ref document: DE

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220727

Ref country code: EE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220727

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

P01 Opt-out of the competence of the unified patent court (upc) registered

Effective date: 20230512

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: AL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220727

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20230502

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220727

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20230123

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20230123

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: BE

Ref legal event code: MM

Effective date: 20230131

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20230123

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20230131

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20230131

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20230123

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20231128

Year of fee payment: 10

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 20240201

Year of fee payment: 10

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20231212

Year of fee payment: 10

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MC

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220727

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MC

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220727